Posted by Sarah Marino on July 5, 2011 at 11:14 AM
Photographers like to give each other advice. Of all the advice you have received, given, heard or read about the art and craft of nature photography, what do you think are the most valuable gems? Consider the things you wish you would have learned (or listened to) earlier or the things you wish you knew when you started out.
Don't clip your toenails too short on the eve of a long backpack trip. Also wise to skip that Moroccan restaurant.
Posted by Howard Cihak on July 5, 2011 at 12:41 PM
Oh gosh, Sarah, there are so many things it's hard to say what was best. Certainly one of the best was being told to check out this forum. As for the practice of photography itself, "Shoot the light; always shoot the light!"
Phil noted every single bit of advice that I was going to list. Great minds think alike...
I can only add 'shoot in RAW' and 'tell someone where you're going and when you'll return'.
Before you put your camera on your tripod, put the camera to your eye and look around by tilting the camera, getting lower, getting higher to determine the right composition, now put your camera on your tripod in that perfect spot. Now look through your view finder again and is the composition what you wanted?
In addition to the good advice listed above, I feel that the advice to use live view with manual exposure, manual focus and then adjusting after observing the results on the rgb histogram added good value.
I don't always shoot from a tripod but I always carry one, especially for low light situations and blending images. Always have a backup plan. Have a couple of places to go just in case the light is better at the other location. In my part of the country, Yellowstone, always carry pepper spray for protection.
All of the above + Don't delete images based on playback on cameras LCD screen...wait 'til you see it on a calibrated monitor. Even then maybe don't delete, you may improve your processing skills later on.
Use a tripod!
I was shooting on Sunday in the middle of a raging wind storm. I was shooting off a bean bag on the window/door and thought I'd calmed most of the movement. I went to live view and 10X magnification. The camera was shaking so bad I couldn't even see what I was photographing. A very telling tale of just how much our rock steady cameras move.
Everyone in the world sees things horizontally at eye level...shoot from higher angles, shoot from lower angles, and don't be scared of the vertical image.
It was in the context of talking and conversation, but a friend once said to me something along the lines of, "I get neurotic about my camera and lenses when I'm online, not when I'm out shooting."
I think that says a lot, don't you? I try to remember it when I'm reading things online...
Some great advice so far. Two tips I received that have really helped me are "If you want to be a better photographer, study painting and drawing", and "make prints". I've found both of these have really changed the way I see my own, and other's, work.
Posted by Anne K. Rusk on July 6, 2011 at 10:50 AM
So much great advice out here! One thing I wish we knew (or listened to) starting out is that photography is an expensive hobby and good equipment generally costs more for a reason. I cringe thinking of how much we spent on crappy tripods, heads, lenses, backpacks, etc. If we had just bought the good stuff from the beginning, we'd have saved money!
Another great thing I have taken to heart is that the image out of the camera is half-baked and that post processing is PART of the image creation, not a separate endeavor. I had been told to get it perfect in camera, but then I'd see a dull, unsharp image and think I was incapable of getting a good image. I used to get really bummed seeing the newly downloaded image so I wouldn't even bother processing it. Now I know that the time on the computer processing is as important as the time in the field exposing the image.
I haven't seen a bad piece of advice yet, but would want to re-iterate Johns advice about telling someone where you're going when you go into the field alone. Going alone is typically considered bad advice, but sometimes you have to. I usually leave a google earth image of where I'm going on the home PC so my wife can look at it and get an idea of what to tell Search and Rescue.
Speaking of my wife, her usual advice to me is "Quit acting like an idiot", but that may have nothing to do with photography!
Many of you have already mentioned tripods. Along with using one, I would add:
- Carbon fiber is worth the extra cost - you will use it more
- Get a really good ball head
- Skip the center post, it adds weight and decreases stability
- Get an L-bracket for your body. It makes switching from landscape to portrait a snap
A good tripod is a joy to use. I figured that out after my 5th attempt at saving money.
Don't delete your raw/originals- or make double sure before you do.
The only shots I delete are the obviously out of focus or plain mistakes. Even if s shot isn't a 'pick' or 'keeper' I might find a use/need for it later.
Also, I have recently found myself finding flaws in my master files and needing to start over from the original raw file to get it right.
- "Treat your lens hood like your underwear: first thing on, and last thing off." Arthur Morris
- Look up, look down, look all-around.
- My 3am motivational mantra:: "The breeze at dawn has secrets to share: don't go back to sleep." Rumi
- When a composition is not working take things away- less is more. I do not remember the source, but I wish I had learned this a long time ago. It could be a good maxim for life in general.
I'm with Anne. I wish I would've listened when someone told me years ago to just buy the best equipment to begin with because I would end up buying it eventually. I could've saved thousands!!
Also, take a Tony Sweet workshop- it'll change the way you shoot (thanks CAZ). Well worth the money.
I'm also trying to learn the secret of shooting simpler scenes thanks to Jesse S. (though not technically advice, it is good inspiration).
Great topic. I dont know if it is the best advice I have received but I'll share anyways - one of my mentors (he worked with someone with the initials AA) asked
Q - "How do you get rich as a photographer?"
A - " Marry WEALTHY!"
What I learned after tossing out untold numbers of 4X5 transparancies: Check the corners and edges!
Posted by Jeff Hackett on July 10, 2011 at 3:09 PM
Excellent topic Sarah! Thanks.
Don't let your tripod determine your point of view. Get low, get high (lol), figure out how you want to see then set up the tripod accordingly.
Have fun with it! Cant do this thing if you ain't in love with it
Also, get to know the "rules" and break them often, Picasso didn't become famous by following rules. And on that note, study art and learn what grabs you and motivates you.
P.S. I don't agree with Guy, if I make photography a job.... Well, it will become a job and where's the fun in that.
Discussion
38 repliesDon't take yourself so seriously!
Lighten Up!
Use Live View!
Back off. Give yourself some room around the edges of your subject.
Wait for the good light!
Go back to a location over and over and over....
Shoot for yourself, there's no one else more worth shooting for.
I can only add 'shoot in RAW' and 'tell someone where you're going and when you'll return'.
i only shot once in awhile or on the weekends. now i shoot something everyday.
Bill Brennan
I was shooting on Sunday in the middle of a raging wind storm. I was shooting off a bean bag on the window/door and thought I'd calmed most of the movement. I went to live view and 10X magnification. The camera was shaking so bad I couldn't even see what I was photographing. A very telling tale of just how much our rock steady cameras move.
Get it right in the camera!
Use a tripod!
Keep your sensor clean!
Develop a thick skin!
Be able to take constructive criticism.
Joe Roges
I think that says a lot, don't you? I try to remember it when I'm reading things online...
"Bad weather makes for good photographs"
--David Muench
Another great thing I have taken to heart is that the image out of the camera is half-baked and that post processing is PART of the image creation, not a separate endeavor. I had been told to get it perfect in camera, but then I'd see a dull, unsharp image and think I was incapable of getting a good image. I used to get really bummed seeing the newly downloaded image so I wouldn't even bother processing it. Now I know that the time on the computer processing is as important as the time in the field exposing the image.
Speaking of my wife, her usual advice to me is "Quit acting like an idiot", but that may have nothing to do with photography!
- Carbon fiber is worth the extra cost - you will use it more
- Get a really good ball head
- Skip the center post, it adds weight and decreases stability
- Get an L-bracket for your body. It makes switching from landscape to portrait a snap
A good tripod is a joy to use. I figured that out after my 5th attempt at saving money.
The only shots I delete are the obviously out of focus or plain mistakes. Even if s shot isn't a 'pick' or 'keeper' I might find a use/need for it later.
Also, I have recently found myself finding flaws in my master files and needing to start over from the original raw file to get it right.
- Look up, look down, look all-around.
- My 3am motivational mantra:: "The breeze at dawn has secrets to share: don't go back to sleep." Rumi
- When a composition is not working take things away- less is more. I do not remember the source, but I wish I had learned this a long time ago. It could be a good maxim for life in general.
Also, take a Tony Sweet workshop- it'll change the way you shoot (thanks CAZ). Well worth the money.
I'm also trying to learn the secret of shooting simpler scenes thanks to Jesse S. (though not technically advice, it is good inspiration).
Q - "How do you get rich as a photographer?"
A - " Marry WEALTHY!"
RichieV
Don't let your tripod determine your point of view. Get low, get high (lol), figure out how you want to see then set up the tripod accordingly.
(Rehashed from other fields)
What's the best way to become a millionaire in photography? Start out with two million.
Also, get to know the "rules" and break them often, Picasso didn't become famous by following rules. And on that note, study art and learn what grabs you and motivates you.
P.S. I don't agree with Guy, if I make photography a job.... Well, it will become a job and where's the fun in that.